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October 18, 2016

Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class, Budapest to Istanbul

Trip To Panama Flying in Turkish Airlines Business Class

Last month, Mike and I traveled to Panama for the first time where we stayed four nights in the beautiful capital, Panama City. We flew with Turkish Airlines in business class although we had to originate from Budapest instead of Stockholm since the fare was much cheaper starting from the Hungarian capital. Between Stockholm and Budapest, we took the direct flight on Norwegian. Since I have Diamond status with Hilton, we stayed at the Hilton Panama and Waldorf Astoria Panama where we got upgraded to a Master Suite during our stay at the Hilton Panama. We also had a chance to stay at the Radisson Decapolis Hotel which was also a nice hotel, although not as nice as the two Hilton properties we stayed at. When in Panama, you should never miss doing the Panama Canal Tour as it was definitely the highlight of our trip. Take note that they don't have tours everyday so make sure you check the availability beforehand. Our trip to Panama was one of the best trips we've had and having flown in Turkish Airlines business class, it could have not been better!

We had a few hours before our flight to Istanbul so we spent it in the Platinum Lounge which is a nice lounge offering great tarmac views. Around 7:30pm, we left the lounge and headed to the departure gate.

Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport Terminal 2B

Budapest Airport Terminal 2B

Aircraft

Turkish Airlines A320-200

I actually took this picture while in the lounge, just after the plane had landed.

Boarding, gate B11

Boarding started at 7:45pm beginning with families with kids followed by business class passengers and those with status.

Just before boarding the aircraft, you would find newspapers.

Cabin

The cabin has a 2-2 configuration with a total of 12 seats, a third of which was occupied.

Seat

My seat 2A, was a window seat.

Spacious legroom

Seat controls

Under the left armrest is the foldable tray table.

IFE controls

Power ports

Reading lamps

Magazines, Duty free catalogue, safety on board card

Under the right armrest, you'd find the personal screen.

Business Class blanket

Minutes after settling in, we were offered something to drink with a choice of strawberry, water or lemon juice.

The captain came on the PA to welcome us and advise us of our flight time of 1 hour and 45 minutes. Moments later, we were offered Turkish newspapers first and then English newspapers although we declined. We started our pushback at 8:20pm which was followed by the safety video being played. Take off went smoothly and moments later, we were airborne.

Dining

As soon as the seatbelt sign was turned off, the flight attendant working in the business class cabin distributed the menu card and drink list. Moments later, she was back to take the drinks order.

Business class menu, Budapest to Istanbul

Business class menu, Budapest to Istanbul

Beverages

Potpourri of MezzeRoasted eggplant salad

Selection of cheese

Turkish Style Oven Baked Rice Pudding

Moments later, the appetizer, cheese and dessert were offered which were all served in one tray.

Mike chose the beef for his main course which according to him was very tasty.

Chicken en Papillotte, Spring vegetables, Wild thyme

I on the other hand chose the chicken which was almost excellent except for that it was a bit salty.

Then, it was time for some coffee, tea and liquor.

Mike decided to have some cognac.

While I settled for my usual green tea.

The service was very efficient and was done in the exact pace I would have wanted it to be. The fact that we were only four passengers in the cabin could have also helped.

Lavatory & Toilet

Business class lavatory

There were the usual hand lotion and cologne from Eyup Sabri Tuncer with its famous lemon scent.

Landing in Istanbul

We landed in Istanbul Airport at 11pm which was 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

Transiting in Istanbul Ataturk Airport

We were the first ones to disembark and made use of the Business Class Fast Track for a faster security control.

Istanbul Lounge, Ataturk Airport

As we had a few hours left before our connecting flight to Panama, we stayed in the beautiful CIP Lounge which has been renamed the July 15 Heroes of Democracy Lounge.

CONCLUSION

The last time I flew with Turkish Airlines in business class was about 3 years ago so I was really excited when I took this flight. I thought the seats were much better than what we are used to when flying business class in let's say Lufthansa, Finnair or British Airways since the seats here are really business class seats and not the normal economy seats where the middle seats are blocked. I also found the food "almost" excellent and of course, the flight attendants were also friendly. Overall, it was a very pleasant flight and I would not hesitate flying with them again in the future. To all the crew on this flight, "Teşekkürler!"

About Me

Arthur Jeciel (aka The Filipino Traveler) is a Filipino travel blogger based in Sweden writing business and first class reviews of some of the world's leading airlines. He also gives tips on the top attractions to visit when exploring different countries.